Ross Pifer
CENTER DIRECTOR

Professor Ross Pifer’s research focuses on shale gas development and the interface between agricultural and residential development. He has been an attorney with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of General Counsel, and he has advised military personnel and commands in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Great Britain, and Germany while on active duty with the U.S. Army JAG Corps at the Netherlands Law Center. He has presented widely throughout Pennsylvania, as well as nationally and internationally, on shale gas and agricultural law topics to audiences comprised of judges, attorneys, legislators, government officials, landowners, and the general public.

Brook Duer
STAFF ATTORNEY

Brook Duer joined Penn State Law’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law as a staff attorney in 2019. Prior to that, he was an attorney with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for 12 years, serving 8 of those years as Chief Counsel to the agency and supervising the agency’s legal office. Prior to that, Brook practiced law in Lancaster County for 18 years. Brook received a B.S. in Communications from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Jackie Schweichler
STAFF ATTORNEY

Jackie Schweichler is a Staff Attorney at Penn State Law’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, where she conducts legal research and analysis on a wide range of topics affecting agriculture and rural energy. As the primary author of the Shale Law Weekly Review, her work in shale law centers on pipeline regulation and energy developments, while her agricultural law research addresses issues such as agritourism, seed law, pesticides, and rural development. Jackie also serves as the Director of Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Mediation Program, which offers mediation services to landowners across the Commonwealth. In addition, she is a Supervising Attorney with the Rural Economic Development Clinic, where she mentors Penn State Dickinson Law students assisting individuals and organizations in building sustainable and successful rural operations.

An experienced educator and presenter, Jackie has delivered programs for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the National Agricultural Law Center, and the Pennsylvania Farm Show. She has also co-taught Agribusiness Law and Policy for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Jackie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Edinboro University and her Juris Doctor from Penn State Law.

Chloe Marie
RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Chloe Marie has worked with the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law since 2015 where she provides expert research and analysis on a wide variety of legal issues of relevance to the agricultural and energy sectors. Chloe is a regular speaker at and contributor to the Center’s Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar series and has provided presentations at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. She is also the main contributor to the Center’s Agricultural Law and Shale Law issue trackers.

Chloe earned a Bachelor of Law and Master of Law with a focus on construction and urban planning law from the University of Paris XI in France and a LL.M degree in American Law from the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, where she focused her studies on Energy and Natural Resources Law and Policy.

Audry Thompson
STAFF ATTORNEY

Audry is a 2022 graduate of Penn State Law and has worked with the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law since 2019, writing the Agricultural Law Weekly Review and hosting the Agricultural Law Podcast. After teaching in public schools in Missouri’s southeastern “bootheel” region for seven years, Audry came to Penn State in 2016 to pursue graduate studies and then enrolled in Penn State Law after completing her Master’s degree in 2018. Before teaching, Audry spent nine years working in restaurants and kitchens, where she gained firsthand insight into the food industry and an appreciation of the numerous efforts—from farm to skillet—that go into each plate. As a law student, Audry served as an articles editor for the Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs, a research assistant with the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, and has completed the coursework requirements for a joint Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and policy studies.

Riley Amdor
RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Riley is originally from Tolono, Illinois, and graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Legal Studies. She is currently a J.D. Candidate at Penn State Law (’26), where she is involved with Penn State Law Benefitting THON, First-Generation Law Student Society, and Human Rights Society. In her free time, Riley enjoys reading, watching movies, and collecting records.

Caden Dean-Sauter
RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Caden grew up in the small town of Floyd, Virginia, located in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. He attended Virginia Tech, where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, and a B.A. in Journalism. At Penn State Law, he is involved with a number of organizations, including the Environmental Law Society and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. He is also a Law Lion Ambassador for the school. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, fishing, and playing basketball.

Christina Fraser
RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Christina grew up in Geauga County, Ohio and graduated in 2024 with a B.S. in Agricultural and Consumer Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently a J.D. Candidate at Penn State Dickinson Law (’27), where she serves as Secretary of the Animal Legal Defense and is a Research Fellow for the National Agricultural Law Center. Christina plans to pursue a career in agricultural law, advocating for producers and rural communities wherever life takes her. In her free time, Christina enjoys weightlifting, walking in the PA State Game Lands, and cheering on the Cleveland Browns and Fighting Illini.

Benjamin Aronovitch
RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Ben was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city in the center of Canada. Ben graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a BBA in Business Administration. Ben is currently a J.D. Candidate at Penn State Law (’26), where he is involved with the Penn State Corporate Law Society, the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and is a coach for the Penn State Law Sports Moot Court team. In his free time, Ben enjoys golfing, working out, cheering on the Winnipeg Jets, and watching movies!

Maria Pauline
RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Maria grew up in Drums, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 2021 with a B.S. in Anthropological Sciences from Penn State University. She is currently a J.D. Candidate at Penn State Dickinson Law (’27), where she serves as outreach coordinator for the Military Law Caucus. In her free time, Maria enjoys running and baking, especially chocolate chip cookies.